Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
At A Glance
A total of 105 horses were sold, compared to 88 last year, although the clearance rate declined from 80 per cent to 65.22 per cent (with more horses still expected to sell).
The gross of $7,331,000 was up from $5,361,500.
The average also rose, from $60,926 to $69,819
The median was simliar; $40,000 versus $41,000 last year.
The highest price was $700,000 for a Justify (USA) colt, compared to a top lot of $400,000 in 2023.
Colts averaged $78,462 ($67,920 last year) and fillies $57,143 ($36,176 last year) whilst 11 geldings sold for an average of $56,455.
Local buyers purchased 23 horses whilst China was also a major influene, securing 22 horses.
There were also buyers from Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Hong Kong, the Phillipines, Malaysia and Thailand.
Nolen Racing was again the most successful seller by gross; $1,149,000 this year ($1,379,500 last year).
With two horses sold, KO Racing achieved the highest average of $470,000.
Quality stands out
All eyes were on the ring as Lot 76 made his way into the complex, the son of Justify (USA) touted as one of the sale's major attractions and so it ensued as the hammer went down at $700,000 to the bid of Yulong.
Lot 76 - Justify (USA) x Port Augusta (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
It was a pin-hooking success story for KO Racing who purchased him from Coolmore Stud with Munce Racing and Arthur Hoyeau for $300,000 in January.
Not only was the price a “nice surprise” for KO Racing's Kobie O'Brien, but also somewhat of a relief with the horse initially purchased with the idea of syndicating and racing him.
But things didn't quite work out with partners and O'Brien was left holding the baby so to speak. “It has been a wild ride!” he laughed.
Racing his first tried-horse purchase, a $500 buy who went on to win 12 races, O'Brien has cheered home 34 (from 36 runners) winners on a syndication model based on tried horses but earlier this year he decided to take his chance at the major sales.
Kobie O'Brien
“We were looking to buy the sort of horses that could see us competitive in the classic 2-year-old races,” he said, and the Justify colt out of Port Augusta (Encosta De Lago) was one such horse.
And whilst he will not be racing him, he is pleased that the aim of buying “quality” worked out.
“Yulong only buy quality horses,” he said, describing the colt as “a horse with a beautiful action; a strong, robust, athletic colt who really caught the eye with his breeze-up.”
“Yulong only buy quality horses. (Lot 76 is) a horse with a beautiful action; a strong, robust, athletic colt who really caught the eye with his breeze-up.” - Kobie O'Brien
The Katom-bred colt is a half-brother to three winners including the stakes-placed Lady Young (Fastnet Rock). His dam is a half-sister to Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) from the prolific Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}) family.
KO Racing made a loss on their other colt Lot 114; purchased for $350,000 and sold for $240,000 but O'Brien was pleased to see his trainer Chris Munce put in the winning bid.
“He has loved him right through and I hope he has some fun with him,” he said of Lot 114, a Street Boss (USA) colt out of the city-placed Unbounded (Sebring).
Lot 114 - Street Boss (USA) x Unbounded (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
KO Racing's two horses were prepared for them by Kenmore Lodge who had two success stories of their own; a Hellbent colt (Lot 80) fetching $260,000 and a Star Turn colt (Lot 117) $250,000.
Both horses were withdrawn from yearling sales with Cameron Bond saying that “we thought they were both better placed at this sale.”
“We we're confident about both horses,” he continued, “and we pulled it off!”
An imposing dark coloured colt, the Hellbent caught the eye of Amy Feng (the current representative for Arqana in China) who paid $260,000 to secure him.
Gallery: Kemore Lodge's six-figure pair, images courtesy of Magic Millions
She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Miss Trustful (Dubious) out of a daughter of the Listed Epona S. winner Great Anna (Anabaa {USA}) whose dam is the G2 Herbert Power S. winner Great Vintage (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Meanwhile the flashy son of Star Turn stays local having been purchased by Laming Racing. He is out of of Valid Contract (Magnus), a dual city-winning daughter of the Listed Angst H. winner Prenuptial (Take Your Partner) and dam of the triple city winner Binding (So You Think {NZ}).
Good sale for Nolen Racing
Lot 88 was another Justify success story, a $60,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale graduate who was originally sold by Newhaven Park this time around fetching $425,000.
Lot 88 - Justify (USA) x Sacred Witness (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A result which delighted Tal Nolen who has had the filly under his care for only a few months.
“I just trimmed her up a bit,” he said, describing the striking brown as “a great minded filly with a lot of ability.”
Nolen shrugged when asked why he managed to buy her so cheaply in June. “She was a bit big, but she is a Justify so that's what you expect.”
A half-sister to the triple Listed-winning sprinter/miler Religify (Choisir), the Group 2-placed Shojiki (Redoute's Choice) and the dam of the recent stakes winner Chrysaor (Better Than Ready), she can also boast amongst her relations one of the all times greats; the star Hong Kong speedster Silent Witness (El Moxie {USA}).
Tal Nolen | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Nolen had another nice turnaround with Lot 166, a Zousain colt for whom he paid $70,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions. Bred by Chris Leslie, the son of the multiple city winner Divine Chills (Artie Schiller {USA}) fetched $280,000 to the bid of Magus Equine.
“He is a cracker,” Nolen enthused, noting that he “sold a Zousain for $500,000 in Sydney and this one is just as good.”
“It was a tough sale, so it was nice to get a couple of really good results,” he added, also happy with his overall average.
Lot 166 - Zousain x Divine Chills (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Part of the 2-year-old sales scene since it began, Nolen; who also trains, has a simple philosophy; only keeping those who don't get a bid.
“I am here to sell,” he said.
Ole Kirk kicking goals
At $280,000, another big buy for Magus Equine was Lot 138 who hails from the exciting debut crop of Ole Kirk, one which has already provided the G3 Breeders Plate winner King Kirk and the G3 Gimcrack S. runner-up O'Ole.
Sold by Network Bloodstock who purchased him for $170,000 from the Baramul Stud draft in January, he is a half-brother to the Sandown winner Matriarch Rose (Epaulette) out the Lope De Vega (Ire) mare Antonia whose dam is a half-sister to the high-class racehorse and stallion Dehere (USA).
Lot 138 - Ole Kirk x Antonia (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Network Bloodstock's David “Butch” Bourne was happy with the result, admitting that he was hoping for a bit more but joking as he said, “It was better than bank interest!”
Recently retiring from the training ranks, Bourne established Network in 2008 with the aim of trading horses. That's something he will now be concentrating on, enjoying letting go of the many demands of training.
“I will still be heavily involved, I still have many of the same good clients,” he said.
Bourne purchased only this colt for this year's 2-year-old sales, preferring to concentrate on quality over quantity.
“I'd rather do that and get the right horse,” he said, buying with the aim of "trying to get the horse everyone wants!”
Magus Equine's Willie Leung was delighted with both purchases; one who will head to Hong Kong shortly, the other a bit more of a waiting game.
“The Zousain breezed up really well,” he said. “He is a very athletic, strong horse. I know Tal Nolen; I know he does a good job as every horse we have bought from him has won in Hong Kong; his brand is a proven winner!”
“The Ole Kirk will take a bit more time. I bought him for a client who has a permit for next season, and I think he will be a nice 3-year-old. He will be kept in Australia until he is ready.”
“I know Tal Nolen; I know he does a good job as every horse we have bought from him has won in Hong Kong; his brand is a proven winner!” - Wilie Leung
A nice return
A daughter of Exosphere provided a nice return on investment, Lot 173 sold by Symphony Lodge to Qingcai Huang, China for $200,000.
She went through the ring at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale; sold by Lucas Bloodstock to Robl Racing & Upper Bloodstock for $20,000.
Lot 173 - Exosphere x Ellay Doll (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A half-sister to the nine-time winner Copthorne (The Factor {USA}), her placed dam Ellay Doll (California Dane) is a half-sister to the G1 Vinery Stud S. winner Mirjulisa Lass (Danasinga).
Happy to have one sell well at what he described as “a tough sale,” Symphony Lodge's Matthew Park said that the filly had “kept improving through her preparation.”
“Every time we asked something of her, she got better, and she looks to have ability.”
“Every time we asked something of her (Lot 173), she got better, and she looks to have ability.” - Matthew Park
A first for Georgia Cavanough
The first of the day's youngsters to fetch over $150,000, Lot 53 was secured by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald with Will Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) for $160,000 from the draft of Brett Cavanough's Border Bloodstock.
A chestnut gelding by Street Boss, he was bred by Emirates Park and purchased by Blade Racing for $40,000 at last year's Magic Millions National Weanling Sale; again going through the ring in January where he was bought by Cavanough Racing for $45,000.
Lot 53 - Street Boss (USA) x Mayaaseh (gelding) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Cavanough draft was overseen by principal Brett Cavanough's daughter Georgie who enjoyed her first experience at the sale.
“I was well-supported, and everyone was very positive in their comments, I am really appreciative of the opportunity,” she said.
She was not surprised to see the Street Boss colt sell well, describing him as “a beautiful colt who presented himself in fantastic order. He is a very easy to deal with horse who got the price he deserved.”
“And he is off to a great home where he will get every chance.”
“He (Lot 53) is a very easy to deal with horse who got the price he deserved. And he is off to a great home where he will get every chance.” - Georgie Cavanough
The chestnut is the second foal for the stakes-placed Mayaaseh (Exceed And Excel); winner of three of her 10 starts. Her first foal, the $250,000 Magic Millions purchase Dark Gleam (Brazen Beau) has been in the placings at his first three starts for the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable.
It is interesting to note that 31 of Street Boss' 42 runners out of Exceed And Excel mares are winners including the Group 1 sprinter Elite Street, the exciting 3-year-old Traffic Warden and three other stakes winners.
'Something to keep building on'
Magic Millions' Barry Bowditch was happy at the day's end, declaring that the results “were in line with our expectations.”
“It's a cliche but the good horses sold very well. If you have a well-bred, well-conformed colt or filly who breezed up well, you got a good result.”
“It's a cliche but the good horses sold very well. If you have a well-bred, well-conformed colt or filly who breezed up well, you got a good result.” - Barry Bowditch
“There were plenty of people on those horses," he said, “not just the winner and the underbidder but five, six, seven people on those top lots.”
Bowditch was pleased with the level of Asian participation, noting that “buyers from China, the Phillipines and Malaysia really absorbed that lower to middle market.”
“All our figures, our averages and gross, increased from last year and obviously we'd like a higher clearance rate and that is something we will be working hard on over the next 24 hours.”
“All in all, I think the sale gives us something to keep building on.”
“All in all, I think the sale gives us something to keep building on.” - Barry Bowditch
Top lots
| 76 | C | Justify | Port Augusta | KO Racing | Yulong | $700,000 |
| 88 | F | Justify | Sacred Witness | Nolen Racing | Bartholomew & Co | $425,000 |
| 138 | C | Ole Kirk | Antonia | Network Bloodstock | Magus Equine Ltd | $280,000 |
| 166 | C | Zousain | Divine Chills | Nolen Racing | Magus Equine Ltd | $280,000 |
| 80 | C | Hellbent | Rambla De Flores | Kenmore Lodge | Amy Feng | $260,000 |
| 117 | C | Star Turn | Valid Contract | Kenmore Lodge | Laming Racing | $250,000 |
| 114 | C | Street Boss | Unbounded | KO Racing | Munce Racing Pty Ltd | $240,000 |
| 171 | G | Trapeze Artist | Duenna | Blake Ryan Racing Pty Ltd | Oliver Koolman/Augustine Wong | $230,000 |
| 173 | F | Exosphere | Ellay Doll | Symphony Lodge | Qingcai Huang | $200,000 |
| 53 | G | Street Boss | Mayaaseh | Border Bloodstock | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald/William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) | $160,000 |
Top buyers
| Yulong | 1 | $700,000 | $700,000 | $700,000 |
| Magus Equine Ltd | 2 | $280,000 | $280,000 | $560,000 |
| Zhang Jiandao | 7 | $71,571 | $125,000 | $501,000 |
| Amy Feng | 6 | $82,750 | $260,000 | $496,500 |
| Laming Racing | 3 | $155,000 | $250,000 | $465,000 |
| Bartholomew & Co | 1 | $425,000 | $425,000 | $425,000 |
| Qingcai Huang | 3 | $113,333 | $200,000 | $340,000 |
| Munce Racing Pty Ltd | 1 | $240,000 | $240,000 | $240,000 |
| Oliver Koolman/Augustine Wong | 1 | $230,000 | $230,000 | $230,000 |
| Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald/William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| Justify | 2 | $562,500 | $700,000 | $1,125,000 |
| Street Boss | 2 | $200,000 | $240,000 | $400,000 |
| Zousain | 3 | $131,333 | $280,000 | $394,000 |
| Ole Kirk | 2 | $167,500 | $280,000 | $335,000 |
| Hellbent | 2 | $145,000 | $260,000 | $290,000 |
| Trapeze Artist | 2 | $135,000 | $230,000 | $270,000 |
| Cool Aza Beel | 4 | $65,625 | $100,000 | $262,500 |
| Exceedance | 6 | $43,333 | $130,000 | $260,000 |
| Star Turn | 1 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| North Pacific | 4 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $240,000 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Justify | 2 | $562,500 | $700,000 | $1,125,000 |
| Street Boss | 2 | $200,000 | $240,000 | $400,000 |
| Ole Kirk | 2 | $167,500 | $280,000 | $335,000 |
| Hellbent | 2 | $145,000 | $260,000 | $290,000 |
| Trapeze Artist | 2 | $135,000 | $230,000 | $270,000 |
| Zousain | 3 | $131,333 | $280,000 | $394,000 |
| Farnan | 2 | $110,000 | $160,000 | $220,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 2 | $92,500 | $125,000 | $185,000 |
| Hanseatic | 2 | $71,500 | $130,000 | $143,000 |
| Bivouac | 2 | $70,000 | $85,000 | $140,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 11 | $104,455 | $425,000 | $1,149,000 |
| KO Racing, Brisbane, Qld | 2 | $470,000 | $700,000 | $940,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 9 | $86,111 | $260,000 | $775,000 |
| Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW | 19 | $40,368 | $125,000 | $767,000 |
| GlenX Lodge, Biddaddaba, Qld | 8 | $62,625 | $110,000 | $501,000 |
| Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld | 9 | $53,500 | $130,000 | $481,500 |
| JCS Thoroughbreds, Benalla, Vic | 4 | $91,250 | $160,000 | $365,000 |
| Network Bloodstock, Seymour, Vic | 1 | $280,000 | $280,000 | $280,000 |
| Symphony Lodge, Oakey, Qld | 3 | $92,000 | $200,000 | $276,000 |
| Border Bloodstock, Scone, NSW | 4 | $66,250 | $160,000 | $265,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 11 | $104,455 | $425,000 | $1,149,000 |
| Symphony Lodge, Oakey, Qld | 3 | $92,000 | $200,000 | $276,000 |
| JCS Thoroughbreds, Benalla, Vic | 4 | $91,250 | $160,000 | $365,000 |
| Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld | 9 | $86,111 | $260,000 | $775,000 |
| Border Bloodstock, Scone, NSW | 4 | $66,250 | $160,000 | $265,000 |
| GlenX Lodge, Biddaddaba, Qld | 8 | $62,625 | $110,000 | $501,000 |
| Tennyson Performance Horses, Brigalow, Qld | 4 | $58,750 | $125,000 | $235,000 |
| Alexia Fraser Bloodstock, Warwick, Qld | 9 | $53,500 | $130,000 | $481,500 |
| Bayliss Racing, Sunshine Coast, Qld | 3 | $45,333 | $85,000 | $136,000 |
| Emmanuel Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Nobbys Creek, NSW | 3 | $45,000 | $75,000 | $135,000 |
